Minutes:
PRE-SCRUTINY
The Committee chose to
scrutinise the following items:
Cabinet Board Proposals
1.1
Household Waste Recycling Centre,
Lower Cwmtwrch
The Committee received information in relation to
Household Waste Recycling Centre, Lower Cwmtwrch as
contained within the circulated report.
Members referred to paragraph nine on page 13 in
relation the financial impact, and queried whether the savings made from
closing Pwllfawatkin have been factored into this
figure. Officers stated that the savings from the closure of Pwllfawatkin had been factored in, but the savings fell
marginally short of the £100,000 target.
Members
queried whether there was a breakdown available which provided the outturn cost
for the deal agreed with Powys. Officers explained that there was no further
breakdown available from Powys, and that officers had agreed to a lump sum
payment to cover site management fees. Officers informed the committee that
both authorities would share the cost of residual
waste, recycling, reuse and composting tonnages taken by residents to the site
on a 50/50 basis for the first three years. Officers added that after the three
year period had elapsed that surveys would be undertaken to determine the cost
to each authority based on actual usage by citizens from both areas.
Members queried whether there was a further
breakdown of the figure agreed with Powys. Officers
explained that cost of the contract with Powys was
cheaper and better value for money than the current arrangement. Officers added
that there wasn’t much additional detail to include other than what was
included in the report.
Members queried why the site would be closed for
two days. Officers explained that it was in order to make the site more viable.
Following scrutiny, the Committee were supportive of the proposals to be considered by the
Cabinet Board; however the committee requested for a further report to be
presented to the committee with a further breakdown of outturn costs.
1.2 Programme
of Maintenance of Bus Shelters
The committee received a report in relation to the Programme
of Maintenance of Bus Shelters as contained within the circulated report.
Members
queried whether the contract in place with Clear Channel in relation to the
maintenance of the stainless steel bus shelters was effective. Officers stated
that the contract with Clear Channel was good value for the Council as they
offered a full maintenance and repair service on a regular basis at no cost to
the Council, provided that they could arrange advertisements on the shelters
and retain the associated income. Officers added that the only cost that the
Council would have to incur was to replace a bus shelter if it was demolished
or damaged beyond repair, and an insurance claim was unsuccessful.
Members
questioned that in the scenario where an insurance claim was not successful and
there was no money in the budget to replace a bus stop, would a flag and a pole
in place of a bus shelter work as a temporary measure. Officers stated that
every insurance claim was followed up and the Council had a good track record
of recovering costs.
Members
queried whether there were any usage figures available which could determine
whether there was still a need for a bus shelter in a local area. Officers
stated that specific data on bus shelter usage was not currently available;
however this information was currently being collected for the Welsh Government
as part of a response aimed to improve bus services in Wales.
Following
scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted.
13. Key Performance
Indicators 2018/2019 – Quarter 3 Performance (1st April 2018 – 31st
December 2018)
The committee received information in relation to
the Key Performance Indicators 2018/2019 – Quarter 3 Performance (1st
April 2018 – 31st December 2018) as contained within the circulated report.
Members
referred to an article on the BBC news website dated 12th February
2019, where the Council had been reported to have received complaints regarding
3,810 missed bin collections; and queried whether the vast majority of them
were not upheld or partially upheld, and how many of them were reflected in the
performance data. Officer informed the committee that the way the calls were
recorded were as a request for service and not as complaints. Officers stated
that they were only dealt with and recorded as complaints if an individual
contacted the Council on more than one occasion to report that they still had
not received the service. Officers added that to have missed 3,810 bins collections
from approximately 5 million was not poor.
Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted.